Alcohol consumption by type/country

[ChainWhip]

Not sure if this topic belongs here so please move as needed.

As expected, vodka is the clear leader but here's some statistics on consumption by type/country:

http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2013/06/daily-chart-9

Bourbon/Rye didn't even make it on the list (ignored for whatever reason).

[whiskeyagonzo]

Interesting. I would have thought bourbon would have included a much bigger part. Especially with all the so called "shortages". With the popularity of bourbon here of late I wonder what this chart would look like in a few years assuming the trend of bourbon continues.

[Balcones Winston]

It is an alarming statistics indeed. Think about the lives, health, families destroyed by this publicly accepted drug. Plus huuuge amounts of money poured in to the alcohol business; that money could be instead used for meaningful purposes.

I never understood how a person with any intelligence can pay to voluntarily poison himself/herself with alcohol.

And instead of anti-alcohol campaigns, like there are fortunatelly at least for tobacco, we have ads promoting drinking. What an example for the children and youths..

[oke&coke]

It is an alarming statistics indeed. Think about the lives, health, families destroyed by this publicly accepted drug. Plus huuuge amounts of money poured in to the alcohol business; that money could be instead used for meaningful purposes.

I never understood how a person with any intelligence can pay to voluntarily poison himself/herself with alcohol.

And instead of anti-alcohol campaigns, like there are fortunatelly at least for tobacco, we have ads promoting drinking. What an example for the children and youths..

UUUUUUUUMMMMMMM.......what??????:skep:

[tanstaafl2]

The Philippines and gin? Who knew!

I guess that despite the Bourbon/American whiskey boom it is still a bit player on the world scene. Would have thought it might at least out sell tequila but I guess not unless it was not even considered as a category in this report.

[tanstaafl2]

It is an alarming statistics indeed. Think about the lives, health, families destroyed by this publicly accepted drug. Plus huuuge amounts of money poured in to the alcohol business; that money could be instead used for meaningful purposes.

I never understood how a person with any intelligence can pay to voluntarily poison himself/herself with alcohol.

And instead of anti-alcohol campaigns, like there are fortunatelly at least for tobacco, we have ads promoting drinking. What an example for the children and youths..

UUUUUUUUMMMMMMM.......what??????:skep:

I'm guessing he inadvertently forgot to hit the sarcafont button...

[ramblinman]

The specific scotch whiskey seems a little odd, that's a bit like having Puerto Rican rum and not including all the other rum producers in the Caribbean.It would have been a bit more informative to put bourbon, scotch, canadian, and other whiskeys together for the scotch bubble. I don't think it'd change the ordering, but I have to think it'd be a significant increase.

[Tucker]

I always enjoy reading the comments, as does Winston. You'd think that The Economist would have more intelligent readers.

[squire]

You joining a Seminary Winston?

[BigBoldBully]

For those who are curious, Winston has simply copied and pasted a comment from the article . . . a comment he posted under his alternate screen name Santa Maria. And just when we think he is trying to expose hyperbole, he will announce that he is leaving balcones to avoid both a life and afterlife full of brimstone.

[mbroo5880i]

It is a good thing that the Chinese drink baijiu. Could you imagine the shortages if they drank American Whiskey? I wonder what accounts for the other 0.5% that they drink. Since it is high spirits, it can't be beer.

[wmpevans]

The Philippines and gin? Who knew!

American influence? Who knows. MacArthur was not known to be much of a drinker, but I'm sure his troops were.

[squire]

Maybe they just filter and flavor that cheap Chinese stuff.

[deathevocation]

Bah. No beer = no Australia on the chart. Didn't know about the Philippines and Gin.

[oke&coke]

It is a good thing that the Chinese drink baijiu. Could you imagine the shortages if they drank American Whiskey? I wonder what accounts for the other 0.5% that they drink. Since it is high spirits, it can't be beer.

[portwood]

...cognac, Louis XIV specifically. They like to mix it with their tea.

Expensive doesn`t necessarily equal good.

A $100 bottle of Armagnac may be more enjoyable than a $2000 Remy Martin in a crystal decanter - the tea may be of better quality than the cognac.

[oke&coke]

Expensive doesn`t necessarily equal good.

A $100 bottle of Armagnac may be more enjoyable than a $2000 Remy Martin in a crystal decanter - the tea may be of better quality than the cognac.

You got no argument from me there. I just find it funny that they would spend that much money on a status symbol then mix it with something. Kind of like my wife mixing my Whistlepig rye with coke.

[squire]

I just find it funny that they would spend that much money on a status symbol then mix it with something.

Part of the status act is showing disdain while conspicuously consuming as in "I only drink 25 year old GlenBurgoo and mix mine with coke".

[portwood]

I just find it funny that they would spend that much money on a status symbol then mix it with something. Kind of like my wife mixing my Whistlepig rye with coke.

All joking aside, and to be fair, tea is a different ballgame compared with other mixers such a coke. There is quite a culture surrounding tea and there are people as serious about its brewing & tasting as the bourbon crowd visiting these boards. So, its possible that matching a fine tea with a quality spirit may actually be a good drinking experience.

[deathevocation]

Got a couple of expensive bottles of Chinese spirit in my bar, given as gifts. Opened one and wow, the smell/taste/texture.

Definitely an acquired taste.

[squire]

Definitely an acquired taste.

Sounds like something used to torture political prisoners.

[TheNovaMan]

Sounds kinda like scotch.

[ChainWhip]

Sounds kinda like scotch.

Ouch... That's gonna leave a mark!

It's all good P. It just means I get more scotchy scotch scotch for me!

[TheNovaMan]

Hence the winking smilie

[Danger]

Somewhat surprised that the US out-drinks Mexico in tequila (though I guess Mexico out drinks-the US per person if I'm reading that right).